I want to travel to Saudi Arabia, but not as part of a tour

CorkMan

ATM you can only travel as part of a tour, with a group of people. Is there anyway past this? I was thinking of sneaking into Saudi Arabia via one of it's borders, or maybe a couple of months beforehand join a local Mosque and then apply for the pilgrimage to Mecca. I'd surely be able to head off my myself then and explore all the country (even go to Mecca).

I'd be able to do that without having to pay for a way over the priced group trip, because that is the only way available ATM, so the tour operators can make even make rip-off Ireland look like Bargain Ireland. If I was to sneak in, i'd travel to Israel first, that's a fairly safe country if your Irish, especially only for a day or two. I'd stay away from big malls. I'd then enter Jordan which borders Saudi Arabia (no uprisings or lots of terrorist attacks against people). I'd be able to get into Saudi Arabia then. I reckon joining a local Mosque soon and plan to go there on the Mecca pilgrimage 6 months might be the better option, though i'm not sure if it's 100% fool proof.

What do ye think?

ABajaninCork

Well - I wouldn't go to Israel first. If you have Israeli stamps in your passport, you will be refused entry to most Arab countries.

Siuin

Wow, this is quite the adventurous holiday you have planned...!
Firstly, ABajaninCork is correct- you won't be allowed into Saudi (or many other Muslim countries) with an Israeli stamp on your passport. Sometimes you can ask them to stamp a separate piece of paper, but you are not guaranteed that they will fulfill this request. I'd say that if you want to experience Israel properly, a day or two simply isn't enough to appreciate it. If it's just a pass through, then never mind. Also, why stay away from big malls? I go to big malls here in Israel several times a week, and have never had any problems.

May I ask why you want to go to Mecca? I've only ever heard of serious Muslims being excited about it

who the fug

as said before get a new passport without that stamp

Unless you convert, you will not be able to go to Mecca and Medina

Only way you can visit Saudi without going on a tour is by getting an invite from somebody who lives there, and nobody is going to do that as they are responsible for your actions whilst in the Kingdom

An umra or haj visa will limit you to Mecca and Medina, and muslims in the UK and Ireland save long and hard to get a visa from the limited quota issued, it would be very bad manners to stop some one else going in order to satisfy a whim

What do you do for a living?

Siuin

who the fug wrote: »

What do you do for a living?

:eek: Mom?

Pythia

Sneaking across the border sounds like a terrible idea. They could accuse you of spying and stick you in some jail.

What do you pkan to do there? It's the last place I'd want to go.

Siuin

Pythia wrote: »

Sneaking across the border sounds like a terrible idea. They could accuse you of spying and stick you in some jail.

What do you pkan to do there? It's the last place I'd want to go.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/saudi-police-arrest-a-bird-accused-of-%E2%80%98spying%E2%80%99-for-israel/
If they're jailing birds, he'll have no hope!
And yeah, I also don't see the appeal of a repressive, misogynistic environment where alcohol is illegal

mikedragon32

Thread closed.

At best it's a bit trollish, at worst the OP is looking for advice on avoiding local regulations on entry to a country. Either way, I doubt this will go well.